If you’re a fan of grilling, then you already know that there’s nothing better than enjoying a warm summer evening with friends while sipping on a cool cocktail.
Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue or just hanging out at the local park, these grilled libations are sure to offer an added layer of flavor as they complement your grilled meats and veggies.
So grab some fresh herbs and fruits from your garden or farmer’s market and get ready to mix up these delicious drinks!
| Takeaway |
|---|
| Grilled food and cocktails are the perfect combination for a successful barbecue event. |
| Try new and creative cocktail recipes to impress your guests and elevate your BBQ experience. |
| Maintaining and cleaning your grill is crucial for its performance and longevity. |
| Grilled side dishes and cocktails with seasonal ingredients like watermelon, peach, and lemon can enhance your guests’ experience. |
| Experiment with different ingredients to create a unique signature cocktail for your party. |
Off the Cobb
As the name suggests, this drink is all about the fruit. The Ketel One vodka and fresh grapefruit juice make this a refreshing choice in the summer heat, while St. Germain adds a little sweetness to balance out both flavors.
To make your own, combine 2 oz of Ketel One with 1 1/2 oz each of St. Germain, fresh grapefruit juice and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice; cover and shake vigorously for 15 seconds; strain into an ice-filled glass; top with club soda and garnish with a twist of grapefruit on top
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Basil G&T
- 1½ ounces gin
- 3/4 ounce fresh basil syrup (see below)
- Ice, plus more to serve
- Lemon twist, for garnish
Make fresh basil syrup by combining one cup of water with 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh basil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is dissolved, then remove from heat and let cool completely before adding to your drink.
To make a Basil G&T: Muddle an entire sprig of fresh basil in the bottom of your shaker (be sure not to bruise the leaves).
Add ice cubes, gin, and basil syrup and shake vigorously for 15 seconds or so. Strain into a chilled martini glass filled with ice cubes; garnish with lemon twist if desired.
Ingredients for Basil G&T
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Gin | 2 oz |
| Tonic water | 4 oz |
| Fresh basil leaves | 4-5 |
| Lime wedge | 1 |
| Ice | As needed |
Peach Ginger Old Fashioned
The Peach Ginger Old-Fashioned is a spin on the classic bourbon cocktail that’s perfect for summertime.
The first step here is to make your old fashioned: In a mixing glass, muddle together 1 peach slice and 1/2 teaspoon of ginger syrup.
Add ice cubes, then pour in 3 parts bourbon (we used Bulleit), 1 part peach bitters (we used Bittermens’ Peach Bitters), and 1/4 part lemon juice. Stir for 20 seconds or so until well mixed the longer you stir, the more diluted your drink gets! Add 2 dashes of Angostura bitters and stir again.
Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass or tumbler (or old fashioned glass if you have one) over fresh ice cubes; garnish with another peach slice if desired!
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Citrus Collins
- Ingredients: orange juice, lemon juice, sugar, gin
- How to make it: Shake ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with an orange peel strip.
- Where to serve it: At a barbecue! It’s light and refreshing—the perfect drink to cool you down while you grill up the food.
- Why it’s a good choice for a summer party: It’s easy to mix up this cocktail in large batches, so if you’re hosting friends at your place or going to someone else’s picnic, these drinks will be easy on your wallet (plus they taste great!).
Ingredients for Citrus Collins
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Vodka | 2 oz |
| Lemon juice | 1 oz |
| Simple syrup | 0.5 oz |
| Club soda | 2 oz |
| Ice | As needed |
Gin and Jam
The recipe for this seasonal drink is simple: mix gin, jam and lime juice in a shaker with ice. You can use any type of jam you like (we prefer raspberry), but the most important thing is to make sure it’s homemade.
The difference between store-bought jam and homemade is huge; when you make your own, you can control what goes into it and make sure it tastes as good as possible.
The flavor combinations are endless this gin and jam cocktail will work just as well with blackberry or peach as they do with raspberry!
Spice up your BBQ game with these amazing grill-friendly cocktails that will leave your guests craving for more. From classics to modern twists, our cocktail recipes are perfect to beat the summer heat
Cherry Blossom Cocktail
- Mix together 1 ½ ounces gin, 1 ½ ounces cherry juice and ¼ ounce lime juice.
- Add bitters (or just simple syrup) to taste.
This cocktail is great for those who want something that’s not too sweet but still packs a punch. It also has the added benefit of being very pretty in pink tones and would look great with a light pink flower garnish floating on top.
If you’re not a fan of gin, this drink can easily be made with vodka or tequila instead just make sure you use 100% fruit juices so that they don’t overpower any other flavors from your liquor choice!
Pink Paloma
The Pink Paloma is a classic cocktail that’s equal parts sweet and tart, with a hint of saltiness from its rim. It also packs a wallop, thanks to its main ingredient tequila.
You can make this boozy beverage with either rosé or white wine vinegar, but you’ll want to be sure that the acidity isn’t overpowering; the grapefruit juice provides just enough flavor without overdoing it on the tartness.
To make one yourself, fill an Old Fashioned glass with ice cubes, then add 2 ounces of tequila (we recommend using silver) and 1/2 ounce each triple sec and fresh lime juice; stir gently until well combined. Top with 1/2 ounce fresh grapefruit juice; garnish with lime wheel wedges and serve immediately!
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Coconut Margarita
You can’t go wrong with tequila, lime juice and simple syrup. But to make this cocktail stand out from the crowd (and to give it a slightly tropical twist), we’re adding coconut syrup. The result is a drink that’s light and refreshing perfect for a hot summer day!
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Tequila | 2 oz |
| Lime juice | 1 oz |
| Coconut water | 1 oz |
| Cream of coconut | 1 oz |
| Ice | As needed |
Watermelon Sparkler
This cocktail is the kind of thing you want to sip while standing around in a bathing suit, or maybe even while wearing it. (We won’t judge.)
The watermelon juice gives it a vibrant color and fresh flavor, while the mint leaves add an herbal touch that’s perfect for summer.
Fit your blender with your chopping blade, then slice up two cups of watermelon into cubes and add them to the blender along with four cups of ice cubes (or one bag of frozen berries). If you have access to fresh mint leaves, muddle those up in there too; otherwise don’t worry about it—the lime juice will take care of any bitterness from the rinds anyway!
Add three tablespoons of lime juice (from about half a large lime) and blend until smooth; this may take some time depending on how powerful your blender is so just let it run until everything has been thoroughly blended together—about 10 seconds should do the trick if yours isn’t particularly strong.
Pour into a tall glass over ice cubes so as not only does it look pretty but also stays cold throughout every sip!
Cherry Limeade Margarita Slushie
If you’re looking for a slushie cocktail that tastes as good as it looks, then this is the one for you. It’s got a bit of a spicy kick to it and makes your mouth water with anticipation before each sip.
You’ll need:
- 3 oz tequila
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz triple sec (orange liquor)
- 4 oz cherry limeade mix (the kind in the green can)
Mix together all ingredients in an ice-filled glass or pitcher until well blended and chilled. Top with more ice if desired!
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Strawberry Basil Collins
- Ingredients
- 5 strawberries, halved and sliced
- 2 cups of fragrant basil leaves (about 20 leaves)
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (from about 3 large limes), plus more if needed
- 1/8 cup sugar, plus more if needed
- Preparation: Combine all ingredients except strawberries in a pitcher. Muddle until basil is well incorporated. Let sit for an hour or two to let flavors meld. Strain into glasses over ice. Garnish with strawberry slices, toasted cumin seeds or fresh mint leaves as desired. Serve immediately.
Three-ingredient Paloma
The Paloma is the perfect cocktail to make when you’re in a rush—it only requires three ingredients and is relatively simple to make. You can use any grapefruit soda, but it’s best if you use Jarritos, which is the most common brand used for this drink.
For one cocktail:
1 lime wedge
3 oz tequila (blanco)
Salt for rimming glass (optional)
Ambrosia Slushie Punch
Ingredients:
- 1 cup coconut water
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup mango puree (or frozen mango)
- Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish
Method: In a blender, combine the coconut water, pineapple juice and mango puree. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses filled with ice cubes and garnish with mint sprigs. Serve immediately with a straw or sip through one if you’re feeling fancy!
This drink is perfect on its own but any cocktail would pair well with it too! Or sip this fresh-fruit concoction on its own for an afternoon pick me up–it’s sure to wake you up after a long day of slouching by the grill at your next barbecue!
Conclusion
There are so many cocktail recipes that are perfect for grilling out, but we’ve narrowed it down to our top 15 favorites.
Whether you want something sweet or spicy, fizzy or refreshing, these drinks will satisfy every palate and taste bud!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to help you find the perfect cocktails for your next BBQ:
Grilled Cocktail Recipes from SheKnows: Get inspired with these delicious grilled cocktail recipes that will elevate your BBQ game.
Best 10 Summer Cocktails for Your BBQ Parties from Winerist Magazine: Impress your guests with these 10 mouth-watering summer cocktails that will take your BBQ party to the next level.
29 Awesome BBQ Drinks from Mix That Drink: Check out this collection of 29 BBQ drinks, whether you’re making drinks for a large gathering or simply treating yourself.
FAQs
What makes a cocktail BBQ-friendly?
A cocktail that is BBQ-friendly generally has flavors and ingredients that complement the smoky, savory, and slightly sweet flavors of grilled food. It should be refreshing, easy to sip, and not too complex or heavy.
What are some seasonal ingredients that go well in BBQ cocktails?
Seasonal ingredients like watermelon, peach, lemon, strawberry, and cucumber are perfect for BBQ cocktails. They are light, refreshing, and pair well with grilled dishes.
Is it possible to make non-alcoholic BBQ-friendly cocktails?
Yes! There are plenty of non-alcoholic cocktails that are perfect for BBQs. You can use ingredients like soda, juice, herb-infused water, and fruit to create refreshing drinks that everyone will love.
How can I create a signature BBQ cocktail for my party?
To create a signature BBQ cocktail, you should consider the type of food you’ll be serving and the flavors that will complement it. Experiment with different ingredients, garnishes, and spirits to create a unique and memorable cocktail.
What are some tips for serving cocktails at a BBQ?
Make sure to have a variety of cocktails available, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Offer a range of glasses and garnishes, and provide plenty of ice and mixers. It’s also a good idea to have a designated bartender or self-serve station to keep things organized.
Hi there! I’m Hellen James, and I’m a grilling enthusiast. I’ve been grilling for years, and I absolutely love it. I love how it brings people together and how you can feed your family with just a few minutes of work.